Lester Park School Newsletter

Jan 26...Report Cards sent home with Students
Jan 26...PTA meeting (6pm)
Feb 2...KEYZone Summer Registration Opens
Feb 2-3...Main Teacher Conference Dates & Meals
Feb 2-6...PTA Book Fair
Feb 16-20...NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
Mar 2...NO SCHOOL (Staff PD Day)

More events on our Lester Park Calendar HERE

2025-26 District Calendar with 4 Day Specialist rotation HERE

(PD=professional development/NO SCHOOL for students)

Other Helpful Links:

Lester Park Family School Handbook

School District Student Handbook

Lester Park Staff List by Grade/Dept

Previous Lester Park Newsletters

You have all heard by now that school is canceled for tomorrow. Often the "Snow Day" cancelation comes in the evening or early morning. We have been asked how the decision is made and why it may take awhile to make the announcement. Below is information from the school district's website describing what goes into deciding to cancel school...

"The decision to close or delay the start of school due to winter weather is made prior to 5 a.m. All families will receive an email, text, and/or call through ParentSquare if school is closed. If possible, a decision will be made the night before so families, especially those with elementary age students, have enough time to make alternative plans for their children in the event of weather-related school closings.

How Is the Decision Made?

Duluth school district transportation personnel are up at 3:30 a.m. checking National Weather Service reports, and on the road by 4 a.m. personally checking conditions.
They consult with transportation managers from Proctor, Hermantown and Superior school districts and with the bus contractor. They may also consult with the police department, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, highway patrol, and city and county departments that handle plowing.
The transportation managers from Duluth, Superior, Proctor and Hermantown generally consult with the superintendents and make a decision whether or not to close or delay school by 5 a.m. Making a decision later than 5 a.m. is difficult – district school buses begin to hit the road by about 6 a.m., and the longer school districts wait to make a decision, the more difficult it is for parents to plan their day.

How is the announcement communicated?

When there are closures or delays due to weather conditions, families will receive a call, text, and/or email through Infinite Campus Emergency Messenger system. Local television stations and radio stations will also be informed of the school closure. Duluth Public Schools will also post on social media (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) as well as all of the school and district websites.

Please know that when it comes to winter weather, we encourage and strongly support you in making the decision that is best for your child. You are the best judge of your child’s health and safety. The school board and administration realize that their decision for the majority of students may not fit with your individual circumstances. As long as you contact the school to report the absence, a decision to keep your child home or pick up your child early from school for safety reasons will be considered excused. If the absence is not reported to the school, it will be considered unexcused."

More information can be found here:

https://www.isd709.org/families/weather-related-school-closings

The PTA Skating Party at Portman has been canceled due to cold weather

PTA Membership Meeting January 26th at 6pm in the school library/media center.

Agenda

Lester Park PTA and Foundation - what are they and how can you be involved?
What is important to you from these organizations - how can we help?
Safe Routes to School - brief update with guest speaker next month
What events, advocacy, school enrichments would you like to see?

Everyone is welcomed!! If unable to attend please reach out to ptalp709@gmail.com with any questions or ideas!

The PTA Book Fair is coming up soon, and will again be in the library/media center. Students will have the opportunity to shop with their classmates, as well as on the main 2 conference nights.

Volunteers are needed to help run this fun event. Please click on the link below to find out the classroom shopping times and to sign up. Thank you!

PTA BOOK FAIR SIGN UP (JAN 30-FEB 5)

eWallet

Go cash-free with eWallet, the digital payment option that lets families add money so kids can shop the Book Fair independently. Volunteers will be there to help them out.

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/lesterparkelementaryschool

"Order Your Yearbook" with an open book illustration.

If you would like to order a Personalized yearbook for your child, you will need to order it by January 30. After this date, only generic yearbooks will be available for purchase.

Families are able to order yearbooks through Jostens until the supply runs out. Yearbooks cannot be purchased in the office. Please do not send money to school. Purchased yearbooks will be given to students after Memorial Day.

Jostens emailed parents last month with information on how to order Yearbooks. You can also find this information here: JOSTENS YEARBOOK WEBSITE

Payment Options:

Jostens has a variety of flexible payment options available at checkout! Order your student's yearbook and choose the payment method that works best for you: Apple Pay, Afterpay, Venmo, PayPal or credit card. Terms Apply.

"Illustration of three smiling children jumping above the text 'Kindergarten Registration' in colorful letters."

It's time to start thinking about next school year! If you have a child that will be eligible for kindgergarten this fall, please fill out this form: 2026-27 Kindergarten Contact Form

We have lots of great kindergarten information, and we want to make sure families receive it. One is about our Kindergarten Meet & Greet from 4pm-6pm on Thursday, March 19.

We will also provide enrollment tips such as the 2026-27 Registration opens on February 1. Students already enrolled in Lester's K-5 programs this school year do NOT need to register again. They are automatically enrolled in the next grade level.

What do I do if my child is going to be absent from school?

Email lesterattendance@isd709.org (the office & nurse will both see these emails)
or call attendance line 336-8875 then “3” to leave a recorded message
Please list any specific symptoms - especially Flu and GI symptoms.
Teachers may have a preferred way for you to report an absence to them.

If the office does not know why a student is absent, an automated phone call and an email message will be sent out at sometime between 8:30-9:00. This is for safety reasons.
If your child is absent, or going to be absent, be sure to leave a reason. If no reason is given, it will be marked as an Unexcused Absence.
If you have health questions, you can call our school health office at 336-8875 x2654

Many students and parents are frequently concerned about when students should stay home or attend school. The following information is intended to help with this decision.

General practice:

If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without fever reducing medication.
If a student has vomited two or more times in the past 24 hours and/or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your family physician before sending the student to school.
If a student is ill, please call the school daily to report the illness.

When a student is sick, parents often wonder whether or not to keep a child at home from school. If a child stays home and has the care they need when first sick, they will often get better faster. Staying home and resting will help the body fight the sickness.